Aircraft wing with means to increase lift through control of air flow



1956 c. H. GRANT AIRCRAFT WING WITH MEANS TO INCREASE LIFT THROUGH CONTROL OF AIR FLOW 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 10, 1951 w 4 35 w w Wm a m .T 95 .m w r. r o .T n I e m m 4 m 0 I LJNI W F p INVENTOR. mm .1;

BY Q

ATTUZ/VEKS' FIG. 3.

Nov. 27, 1956 c. H. GRANT 2,772,053

AIRCRAFT WING wrm MEANS TO INCREASE LIFT THROUGH CONTROL OF AIR FLOW Filed May 10, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR; W M

BY NM w ATTOP/VEYJ CREAS LOW . Nov. 27, 1956 c. GRANT AIRCRAFT WING H MEANS TO LIFT THROUGH CONTROL OF AI 4 Shets-Sheet 3 IIIIIIIIII Filed May 10, 1951 INVENTOR.

Nov. 27, 1956 c. H. GRANT 2,772,058

AIRCRAFT WING WITH MEANS TO INCREASE LIFT THROUGH CONTROL OF AIR FLOW Filed May 10, l95l 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. I3;

I EN TOR. W\\

BY v

United States Patent AIRCRAFT WING WITH MEANS TO INCREASE LIFT THROUGH CONTROL OF AIR FLOW Charles H. Grant, New Rochelle, N. Y.

Application May 10, 1951, Serial No. 225,609

11 Claims. (Cl. 244-42) This invention relates to aircraft wings having spanwise extending slots. It is the general object of the invention to obtain increased velocity and volume of air flow that passes from the under side to the upper side of a wing, through an opening in the wing. Two more particular objectives are to produce an increase in air velocity and pressure within the slot and to prevent tipwise flow of air through slots and over flaps that are employed on swept-back wings. It is another object of the invention to provide an improved slot controller.

The invention is intended primarily for application to wings with slots and with or without trailing edge flaps. In effect it is a means to increase the velocity and volume of airflow into a slot and therewith increase the pressure of air within the slot so that a greater velocity and volume of air will be driven out from the slot exit and over the upper surface of the wing that lies rearward of the slot. Through this means of increasing the exit jet flow over the wing (the rearward wing part may be a flap lift), generated by this rearward wing part, is increased.

Slots in wings with or without flaps, function to increase lift in lieu of the normal pressure beneath the wing and slot entrance or to increase pressure created at the slot entrance by depression of a wing flap rearward of the slot. The velocity and volume of air ejected from the slot and over the wing or flap to produce lift is dependent upon the air pressure at the slot entrance. This invention provides, in eifect, an air pump below the slot.

This invention then consists of any auxiliary means of increasing the air pressure at the slot entrance and of directing the airflow up through the slot and over the wing or flap rearward of the slot in an effective manner. In general it takes the form of a combination of: l, a passage entrance into which air passes in considerable volume, as shown in Figure 4. This may be formed between an appropriately shaped lower-forward lip of the wing slot entrance and an auxiliary surface or body located beneath it: 2, an interfering medium lying in the path of the air flowing through the passage, and which medium causes deflection of this air flow and resulting pressure at the points of deflection: 3, a slot or slots leading from the points of pressure to the upper surface of the wing, the exit of which is formed to increase the velocity of the airflow passing out of it and to direct this airflow approximately parallel to the wing surface rearward of the slot exit: 4, a bleed opening or openings transversely spaced from the center line or center plane of the line of airflow through the passage and on the opposite side of the interfering medium or obstruction from the slot exit, the area of this opening being less than the difference between the cross section of the passage and the cross section of the Wing exit opening. In an airplane wing this may take the form of an opening or slot situated between the rear edge of the surface forming the passage entrance, and the under surface of the wing or flap that lies to the rear of the wing slot entrance. 7 v

3 Thisdevicgas composed of these features, operates to ice increase the wing slot pressure. The surface or body beneath the wing slot directs the airflow upward toward the Wing slot while the bleed opening allows increased flow out of the inner portion of the passage, thereby increasing the velocity as well as the volume of flow through the passage entrance and against the obstruction that lies in the path of this flow. In this case the obstruction is the leading edge of the flap or of the wing lying to the rear of the wing slot. This increased velocity of flow against the obstruction increases both the amount of kinetic energy released and the air pressure in this region. This pressure in effect is caused by the abrupt change in direction of the air flow due to the obstruction. This increased pressure reacts upward through the slot to increase the airflow from the slot exit jet.

vWhen a flap is depressed rearward of a slot it generates pressure in front of the flap and beneath the wing slot.

This pressure forces air upward through the slot. However this pressure is not concentrated at the slot entrance and only a small part of the airflow beneath the wing is available for flow up through the slot.

' In this device the flow deflector directs or steers the flow. to the slot entrance, and the bleed slot insures an increased velocity and volume of flow to produce increased pressure at the slot entrance. In effect it changes velocity head to pressure head, using part of the air volume taken in at the passage entrance due to the bleed slot to increase the pressure within the slot.

Although -a specific form and position of features composing this invention is shown here, it is to be understood that other forms, positions and arrangements are envisioned and anticipated. It is understood that the basic factors composing this invention can be put together in manyways to produce the effects indicated and resulting high velocity flow from the passage exit. For instance the required and specified mechanical features may be shaped and arranged to create an air pump for a pressure tank, or a pressurizing device for the blower chamber of a jet engine. It may be used in any case where a large volume of flow of gas or liquid is available to produce a flow of higher velocity but of lesser volume,- or Where the flow approaching a slot is at an angle to the slot. In the latter instance, the vertical guide plates within and at the entrance of the slot, straighten the flow so that it passes up through the slot effectively at right angles to the slot lateral axis, and down over the flap at an angle more nearly parallel to the flap chord than otherwise would be the case. This will increase the lift materially. When the airflow passes through the slot and over the flap at less than to the slot lateral axis and flap chord, resulting lift is reduced greatly; the larger the angle between the flow and the flap chord, the greater is this reduction.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear or be pointed out as the description proceeds.

in the drawing, forming a part hereof, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view of an airplane with a swept-back wing and slot, and with guide plates located in the slot in accordance with this invention,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the airplane shown in Fig. 1, the view being taken from below the level of the wing, and with the deflector and flap depressed,

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic chordwise section through the wing of Fig. 2 with the flap in raised position,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the wing shown in Fig. 3 with the flap and deflector in depressed positions,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing a modified construction with a slot controller that produces a double slot when the flap is depressed,

- depression of the flap.

' Fig; '1' shows an' airplane 20' having swept hack-wings 7 tom surface of the wing.

Fig. 6 is 'a diagramnia-tic chordwise sectional view of V awing including the modified'construction shown in 5, and with the .flap and d'efiector in their raised posi- 1 tions and with the spoiler in elevatedposition, i V Fig. v7 is a sectional view of the wing structure of Fi-gs. to 7 showing the spoiler operating mechanism,

Terraces "Big. 8 is a reduced scale view of the spoilerioperating" 7' Figs; 5' 'to 8 illustrating the way in which successive spoilers are elevated in adesired sequence, 7

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of another modi fied form of the invention in which the deflector isicon tained within the flap When not in use, 7

Fig. 11' is'a reduced sectional view of emodified structure shown in Fig. 10 in combination w th the entire air-foil section,

i nechanism of Fig; 7 with the parts in diiferent positions, 'Fig.r9 is a perspective view of the wing shown in Fig. 1-2 is a view similar re Fig. "11 but showing still i use, 7 c a V a i Fig. 13 isr'a chordwise sectional'view showing another ti'on having a slot and no flap, Fig. 14 is a sectionaltview showing another moditie form of the invention in which the deflector andits at another modified form of the invention 'in which the" Y deflector fits into ade pression in theslot' whenliiot in modified for-m ofthe invention applied t'o'an airfoil *seci tache'd guide plates are (controlled independently of the 21 and a tail 22. Each of the wings. 21 has a flap Z4.

, and a slot 25 that is open between the flap and the forward portion of the-wing when the flap istdepressedl At spaced regions along the slot there are guide reterm surface of the wing. These guide platesZT extend. in sulfistantially the direction of flight of the aircraft; and they.

7 restrain the air against the tipwise movement which; has" reduced the eificiency of swept back-slots andflaps'in'cair craft of the prior art; 7 t V r 1 Fig. t2 shows one of the wings 21 with a deflectorcifll increases theipressure under the slot. and'the increase in pressure causes a greater volume of air to pass upward through the slot? with resulting higher velocity 10f? the air and increaised' liftiwhen the flap is depressed;

In the construction shown in Fig. '2, the-guide plates 27 are carried by the deflector 30', and as the deflector slot controller swings from the positionshown in Fig. '3

' is an operating rod 40 extending rearwardly from the rigid 1 7 forward section 32 to a bracket 41 at the leading edg'e of the flap 24. The operating rod 40 is'conne'cted to "the bracket 41 by a pivot 42 located at a substantial distance i I 1 above :the pivot on which the flap 24 is'hinged to the forward portion of the wing. "Forward and rearward movement of the operating-rod raises and depresses the flap 24 under the control of the pilo'fi The slot controller 37 is connected to the flap 24 by a link 44 which rocks'the slot controller 37 about its pivot' 39 in proportion to. the depression of theflap- 2 4 This rocking movement brings the trailing edgeof the slot controller 37 downward so that it"restricts the outlet at the top of the slot and causes the airflstream from the slot to move rearwardly at high velocity over the upper surface oftheflap. V V j The'd efiectorfitl is connected'to' the'flap by a lever 4.6,;

which is fastened to the flap 24' by a; fulcrum pivot 47 .a Therearward endof the leve'rf46i is ccnneeted, to the, bracket'34by a link 48;" The conneciton of link48 withthe'b'racket 34 is made by means ar pi'vot49 located at a a" substantial distance above the pivots 35 and 47 so that as'thefia'pis depressed; the'link 48 pulls the rearward end of thel'eve'r' 46: upward and rocks it' counterclockwise V V about thefulcrum' pivot 47" so that thedeflector30 is moved downwardly inp'rop'ortion to the depression of r Inaddition to'the vguide gilates 27, which'are carried thedefieQtorVSi); there are preferably'other guide pIat'es' 50v carried-by theslot controller 37. r The guid'e'plates' 5 0 are 7 instaggered' relation with the g'uide plates 27; andpref 'for'preventing tipwise movement of the airth'atflbws I 'upward" through the slot fromv the lower to the upper extendingal'ong the length of the swept hackvsl'ot'2'5 flan-d extending downwardly to a lever-lower than the bottomi'surface :of the Wing andfbelow the slot.

israised; the g-uid'ep1ates127 move upwardly intotthe slot 7 between the flap I24, and theffoiiwardgsection of th jfl Whenthe deflector 36 is fully raised; it servesnas a :gate to close the slot and ritj'forms a continuation or the hot- Fig. 3' is a sectional view through the wingizl"- wing or air-foil has a rigid forward portion 32' with spars j 33 "and'witha bracket'34 which extends rearwardly. from,

the, rearward'zspar 33 to support the flap 2.4; t The flap has a forwardly extending bracket that is, connectedlto. the.

It will be understood" that. in. the construction illustrated in Fig; 3', and in subsequent figures of thedrawing; there are'otherbnackets with pivots spaced [from one another along'the span'wisle extentofiheslotto completethe hinge? connection between the flap and the forward pontionnfi the wingj V V V I r When the sap; 24 is. in raised-position; a slotticontroller 37 closesthe upper endofrtheslot. V a

Eigl 4. show saportio11,- of: the structureofFig. 3 011.32; greatly enlarged scale, and this view includes the links-by: 'which the different. partsrare; operated; Thegslot. con- "bracketifi by a pivot 35' iahout which the flap 24 swings. as it moves between its raised and. depressedvpositions.

trollen 371s connected-V.tothe-forwa1td portion 321.015 thee y a p wis'e'extending: 1113 01113.? about. which ithe era-bly" close to the guide plates 27; and] in position to overlap'the plates 27"as shown in Fig. 4. These upper guide plates 50 restrain tipwise movement of the air after itflows' upward above thetopen'dsof-the guide plates'27. w

There are'slcts in the inside'of 'theslot controller 37 for receiving the upper and forward ends of the guide plate's These slots are indicated by thed'ottedline 52 which representsthe'depth to which the slots extend' into'th'e' rearward face of the slot controller 37;

V t isia" feature of the construction 'illustratedinFig. 4

' thatfthe'deflector 33) is connected to the lever ifiatjson e di'stancefronr' the'pivot'47 sothat the trailing edgei'of the deflector spaced from the bottom surface of "the flap" 24 when the deflectoris in its depressed position; asshown i'rrFi'g *4. The'purpose' of this feature is to permit an on-1 forward'porti'on 55 has" a bracket 56 t to which a flapfST is-connected By a pivotSS; :The flap 57 israised andde pressed byan "operatingrod indicated by the-dot anddash l'ihe 59; the" construction heing similar tofthe operating red'of Fi-gflti' 7 V V i 'I'hemodifiedconstructionshown fin'Figi'Shasa deflec-f" t'or'60 'carried by alever 61which isconnected to' the flap S7b y a fulcrum pivot 62. Theupper 'end of the le er 61" is connected to the' rigid" forwardsection 5"5by. a' link- 64 at=a suhstantial 'distance above thepivot'SS so'thfat-as the'fiap 57' swings about its pivot 58-, the link"64rocks: the lever 61 counterclockwise about its fulcrunr'pivotfli andmoves'the deflector into-adepressed position.

Theaii'c'raft wingof"Fig. 5 has arnovel slot' 'contr'oller'l 65 'which; is supported fromthebracket 56 by 'a'pivot 66 ,7 V

This slot controller '65 isconnectedwith thedlap 57 hya link 67 which rocksithe slot controller rearward a'nd' downwardl-yabout its pivot 66in proportion to th"depres-'" sion of the fiap. A rearward portion-69" of the-'s'lofcoir troller 65'1i's rnovahle with respect tothe'forward'poi'tion or the slot controller, and canhe liftedupwardly ihtc'jth dotted line position indicated By' the-referenceTcharacter V 69. In this position the rearward portion of the slot con:

troller extends above the top of the wing profile and com-- prises a spoiler.

- The rearward portion or spoiler 69 has a bracket 71, which swings about a pivot 72, and this bracket and pivot connect the spoiler 69 to the remaining portion of the slot controller 65. It is a feature of the construction that the distance from the leading edge of the spoiler 69 to the axis of the pivot 72 is greater than the distance of the axis of the pivot 72 below the top of the wing profile. Because of this, there is a gap between the forward edge of the spoiler 69 andthe top surface of the wing when the spoiler is in its raised position 69. This gap causes the boundary layer of air flowing across the top surface of the wing to pass under the spoiler and blend with the flow passing out of thetwo slots which are opened through the wing when the flap 57 and slot controller65 are in the positions shown in Fig. 5. I

When the flap 57 is in raised position, as shown in Fig. 6, the deflector 60 serves as a gate .for closing the bottom of the slot between the flap 57 and the forward portion 55 of the airfoil. end of the slot, but the spoiler 69 can be moved into lowered or raised position independently of any movement of the flap57 or the other partof the slot controller 65.

When the spoiler 69 is raised, as shown in Fig. 6, the

upper part of the slot is partly open, but this is not objectionable because the purpose of the raised spoiler 69 is to create a turbulence of the air flow above the wing, and

there is, therefore, no disadvantage in having the continuoussurface of the top of the wing profile interrupted. No

air passes through the slot since the lower end of the slot remains closed by the deflector 60. 1

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken through a different portion of the airfoil of Fig. 5, and illustrating the mecha nism by which the spoiler 69 is raised and lowered independently of the position of the flap and slot controller. The spoiler is operated by the pilot through a control rod 71' which is connected with a bell crank 72 by a pivot 73. The axis of the pivot 73fis in alinement with the' axis of the pivot 66 (Fig. 5) on which the slot controller 65 rocks'as the flap is depressed. Because of this alinement between the axis of the pivots 73 (Fig. 7) and the axis of the pivot 66 (Fig. 5), rocking movement of the slot, controller causes little or no movement of the control rod 71' and bell crank 72 at the pivot 73.

The bell crank 72 is connected to the slot controller 65 by a fulcrum pivot 75, and the rearward end of the bell crank is connected to the spoiler 69 by alink '76. From this construction it is apparent that longitudinal movement of the control rod 71' will raise or lower the. spoiler 69 regardless of this position of the flap 57 or' the slot controller 65.

In the preferred construction of the invention, the spoiler 69 is made up of a number of sections which extend along-successivespanwise sections of the slot. This construction is shown in Fig. 8. Each of the sections of the spoiler 69 is operated by a control rod 71' through hell crank-and-link connections which are the same for all sections. Howevenit is preferable to have the different sections of the spoiler 69 operate successively so that the spoilers can be used to produce aileron effects for stabilizing the aircraft.

Theoperating mechanism shown in Fig 9 includes a crankshaft -78 extending spanwise within the forward rodj 71",x will impart substantially nof inovement. to 'it's' spoiler section. The second crank will move its spoiler The slot controller 65 closes the upper section much less than the-first crank because of the crank and its con-;

angular relation between the second trol rod 71.

As the crankshaft turns through a quarter revolution,

the spoiler sections are raised sucessively starting from the tip end of the wing. This operating mechanism is disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial,

No. 587,301, filed April 9, 1945, and nowPatent No.

Fig. 10 shows a modified construction inwhich a flap is connected by a pivot 81 to a bracket 82 extendingrearwardly from a rigid forward section 83 of an airfoil. The flap is raised and depressed by longitudinal.

movement of an operating rod 85.

There is a deflector 87 movable downwardly into a position for creating an increase in pressurebelow the views swing rearwardly as they move downward.

The deflector 87 is operated automatically from the flap 80 by a link 90 connected to a rocker arm 91 which swings on a fulcrum pivot 92 carried by the rigid forward portion 83 of the wing. The flap 80 is connected to the rocker arm 91-by a link 94. As the flap is raised, the link 94 moves the rocker arm 91 counterclockwise and pushes the lower link 90 rearwardly so that the deflector 87 swings counterclockwise about a pivot 96 which supports it from the flap.

When the flap 80 is moved into its raised position, as shown in Fig. 11, the deflector 87 is returned to, a recess, 97 in the bottom surface of the flap 80. When retracted into this recess 97, the deflector 87 is within the airfoil profile and the lower surface of the deflector comprises a part of the wing profile.

Fig. 12 shows another modified construction in which the deflector is much larger and the construction comprises a split flap. A flap 100 is connected by a pivot 101 to abracket 102 of a rigid forward section 103 of an airfoil. This flap is raised and depressed by an 'operating rod 105 in the same manner as the flaps previously described. A deflector 107 is connected with the flap 100 by a pivot 109, and when the deflector 107 is swung rearwardly as far as possible'about the pivot 109, thedeflectorv fits against the bottom surface of the flap 100.'

A link 111 connects the deflector 107 to the rigid for-- ward section 103 at a location above the pivot 101 so that as the flap 100 is depressed, the deflector 107 is pulled forward in proportion to the flap deflection. Although the deflector 107 extends downwardlyw and rearwardly in contrast to the other deflectors which extend downwardly, this deflector 107 is larger inproportion to the size of the flap and, therefore, is of greater. downward extent than the other deflectors. Because of its larger size, it creates an increase in the air pressure below the slot which can be made equal to that produced by the downwardly and forwardly extending deflectors shown in the previous figures of the drawing. I V

Fig. 13 illustrates the application of the invention to a wing slot having no flap. 'This figure shows an airfoil- 115 with a slot 116 through which air can flow from the lower to the upper surface of the airfoil. This slot 116 may be located at various regions chordwis'e of'ithe airfoil, either forwardly or rearwardly of the location at in this position the deflector element comprises a :closed gate to prevent air from entering the slot 116. The upper end of theslot 116 is closed by a slot controller l2t).

. When the pilot. wishes to'open the slot'116, he pushes rearwardly an operating link 121 which rocks a hell crank 122 about a fulcrumpivot'123 that supports'tiie' night 65 the 1 22 pushes-wank? fzi'by wfiieli the other end of the bell crank is connected -wftHtfi defieetee- 1 18: T This-movement of the little l'ZSilbWers deflector 118* into various positions below the wing profile depending upoii the extent or retaking movement impaetee' to the 5elI'crank V e or I -The*-sIot cont-relief 126 is operated autom'aticalFy-to open the top of the slot'in proportion to the extenttv wkielt tiie'dfiebtoi-"Hfi Has Been depressed below: the

tie-he when: ee eeiin je mme inventiori' as defined V in the V 7 What is claimed is: V V o a I'-. aircraft wing having a spanwiseextendingslot therein", a aefiem "within the wing prefiiiihingemeansf connecting deflector to the 'wing, hinge means having a spanwfs'e' pivot rearward; of the slotj the entire extent of the deflector being. moigable" dewn wardly a-boutthis hinge means into a position inwhichat. least the lower portion of the deflector extends downward? wing p ofit-e automatic movement or"- the slot contrlien 12W: i effcted 'by a '127 connecting{the V slot controller with the rearward end" of a lever 12% which supports the deflector 11 lever" f281'bCkS" re-lemmpivot 129 V V r -130' seoiineeted by a piver ST-to a: bracket 13? reiifendingirearwardly" f'ro'm a" rigid forward section 'ltshows aiiothennedified' construction: in which? lee of an airfoil? A deflector 13 is calm-emit witli;

the by a lever 137' which swings" about a pivot end of the leve -137' above and 'rearwardiy of the e 7 pivot-13$ is eonnected to a defieetor opera-tin'gjli'nk 140.7

This operatingl'ink Hi? can beactuated tof'rnove tlie deflector 13"G u'pand down: regardless of thepos'ition:

' automatically 'irrrproprortion to the" depression of rhemeiif offiie deflector is under the control of'andmay regulated by the pilot aeaii times; and not only be dependent upon me position of't n: it will understood'that various modifications shown' in the other figires can alsofbe equipped op'erating'mechanism' V such a s shown in Fign14 for moving" the defieetors 7 under the operators control instead of' antoma'ticalik from the flap When control by the-pilot preferred to 148?.iby imparting longitudinal movement to a pull; ro'd 150'. V H V Forward movement of the rod. 150 rocks the plate 147 counterclockwise in Figure 14 and pulls the link, 142 downward so that the pivot I 43 is'mo'ved'. downof the ammo. iii an sf the other modifications deg scribed above; the operation of the deflector was effected immediately beneath-theslet,v andatheupper end, of which? is at; least:- as fair rearward ais the foremosti' part ofthe rearward wa ll' of the slot, the" hinge means' 'bein'g of substantial length and attaeheei-te thedefiector'a" distance from-"the pivot axis-of the hinge nieans and? holding the deflector, when'in its downward positiom' spaced fromthebottomsurfaceof the wing whereby a V bleed passage" is provided throug h' which some 'of the upwardly defle'ctedair" escapes between the top of the V deflector and the wing' 'and flows from said bleedipassage under the part of the-wing rearward ofZ t-he denectar.

'2"; airfoil comprising forward portion, a f

flap; hinge means connecting the flap to the rearward enii of the rigidforward' portion of the airfoil: at Sficfi a location theta slot is opened between" the flapland theforward portion when thefia'p' is depressed, an ap-j paratus for pressurizing' the air b'e lo'w' the sl'ot' 's'aid 1ap"- p'a'ratusf including" a deflector connected to the" anion 7 and movable" between raised and ioweiedflpo's'itions, said" deflector being located Within the", airfoil profiIe when in raised position-tinge means Having a spai wise pivot axis rearward of the slorcemieeting 'the d'efiect'ofrto't'h' aifi'oil,;the *ent iregextenr of said deflector beiii i mev j able downwardly siim itmiieoiisl 556116 the eithe 1 hinge means and. into a" Iewe iewposi'tion in which the} deflector extends downwafdiy below the": Bettomsnif ee 7 of the forward portionof the airfoil iwitli the chord line. of the deflector" ex't' ndiiig ina'direeti n to inter- I sect the flap: at a substantial distanc rearwarmofiytire a the point of intersection of saidlchofd' line andtrlieina gi T [having a si'ntace whicnie eurved' overasubstamial portiono'f its fofal' area, and with a; convex snffaee for i at Iastthat portion of the curved area nearesttojsaid 7 point of intersection; Said deflector having a clearance V a between its up er end and the flap providing abieed, V assage for art" of" the air that is directed u ward By r a the deflector.

7 Ward in'its' slot' l 4 4 and the deflector-operating link I40 7 a is; pushed down and madelto rock the'lever 137 clockwise about its pivot 138. The deflector 136'. is thus' moved upwardly towardl raised position. Movement of' the uli me die opposite direction depresses the deflector1'36,

. A slot' cdntrolIen 152 supported from the bracket 132 by a pivot 1'54;ancbthisYslotcontroIler i s moved, in' proportion te the deflection ofi the 'fiap 13th, by a 1 56. connecting the slot controller'tcr the flap. There are guide plates" 1-58 carried-by the' defiector' 1 36. 'I'hese guide plates are fort-he same purpose as theplates 27 described Figs. 1 to '4 and the plates li8 are shaped to confer-m ter the contonnot theslnt controller and the leading edge oi. the fla'p so'i that when 'thet fiapand deflector 'arei raised the plates fit wthin V thawing profile; There are slots; indicated "by the dotted line 166, in rigid forward: ends of the guide plates 1582' prefenect embodiment-end a numb r of nigdifi'v V cations-0t thefinventidnhave heen ilhfstrate'd and de crf'eee, changes andmedifieafiei s can be made, and seine features canlheused alone dr in difier'ent combine:

7 3; An coifiprising' a forward section, aiiap; hinge means connecting the flap to the rearwarcrenctgef the forward seti'dnan'd having; a" slot between tlieiviiol ward section and the trap. when the flap is de ressed; 73"

deflectoii etemfe g 'andia hinge having apivee axis I cared" rearwardl f the leading edge or the flap, a d hinge connecting the deflectdr element to the and the deflector elementbeing movable about'saidaxis between' raised and lowered. positions,. said" deflector. I element'heing located within: the airfoil profile whem in a raisedr position, and said ideflector element when 'in-t lowered position extending forwardly front thejhinge.

V and-heing spacechthroughoilt its lengthetrorh the bottom profile 0E meairfioil andbeiow the. entrance to; thee s'lojt-i and in a direction (to have an. extension of the chord V I lineo'f the: deflector intersect the-flap ata distance rearward of the leading edge-of the flap, the portion of the flap ahead 05 the point of intersection cisaid chord-line and" th'fl'ap havinga surface-which i urved over a snbst'antiaf portionof total area; and a convex surface for at least that portion of thecurve-d area nearest to said'peint of intersection; and operating. meet mm for tiiei deflector eonneetee niefnap and movable with the flap tolower the deflector element as the flap is depressed.

4. An airfoil including a forward section and a rearward section comprising a flap with a leading edge, and having a clearance between the flap and the forward section when the flap is depressed, an air deflector having arounded, leading edge and located between the flap and the forward section in position to divide the clearance into two slots through which air flows from below the airfoil to the top surface above the flap, and a deflector element connected to the airfoil by a hinge connection having a pivot axis located rearwardly of the leading edge of the flap and about which the deflector element is movable from a position within the airfoil profile to a lowered position extending forwardly and downwardly under both of the slots, and in position to deflect air upward below both of the slots and into said slots and into impingement with the forward portion of the flap, the upper end of the depressed deflector element being spaced from the flap to provide a bleed passage from which air passes under the flap and being located rearward of the leading edge of the flap, and the lower and forward surface of the flap ahead of the upper end of the deflector having a surface which is curved over at least a portion of its area and the entire surface which is curved being of convex curvature.

5. An aircraft wing having a spanwise extending slot therein, a deflector within the wing profile, hinge means having a pivot axis rearward of the slot and connecting said deflector to the wing, the deflector being movable angularly about this pivot axis of the hinge as a center into a lowered position in which the deflector extends forwardly and downwardly below the wing profile and into the air stream below the wing to deflect the air upwardly from immediately below the slot, said hinge means being of substantial length and attached to the deflector at a distance from the pivot axis of the hinge and with the upper edge of the deflector, when the deflector is lowered, spaced from the pivot axis of the hinge and from the bottom surface of the wing with clearance for a flow of air across the bottom of the wing and between the wing and the deflector, the deflector, when depressed having a chord line that extends along a directional line that intersects a bottom surface of the wing at a substantial distance rearward of the slot, said bottom surface ahead of the intersection being curved over at least a portion of its area and the curvature of the entire curved area being convex.

6. The combination with an airfoil having a spanwise extending slot opening through it for the flow of air from the bottom to the top of the airfoil, and having a bottom surface area that extends up into the slot to form the back of the slot, or a deflector extending along at least a substantial portion of the slot, and a pivot connection between the deflector and the wing, located rearward of the slot and on which the deflector is movable between raised and lowered positions, the deflector when in raised position being located within the profile of the wing, and the deflector when in lowered position being located with its chord line extending along a directional line that intersects the bottom surface of the wing rearward of the back of the slot, and said deflector being located below and spaced from said bottom surface of the wing and below the slot in position to deflect air upward into impingement with the bottom surface ahead of its area and the curvature of the entire curved area being convex.

7. The combination with an airfoil having a forward section, with a swept back trailing edge, and a second section hinged to the rearward end of the forward section along a swept back slot extending through the airfoil and through which air flows from the bottom to the top surface of the airfoil at the trailing edge of the forward section, of guide plates located in the slot, there being a plurality of guide plates connected with said forward section and spaced from oneanotheralong the swept back trailing edge of they forward section, and there being a plurality of other guide plates carried by the second section and spaced along the length of the slot, and overlapping the guide plates of the forward section, all of said guide plates extending substantially chordwise to restrain tipwise slip of the airstream that passes through the slot.

8. The combination with an airfoil having a slot for the flow of air from the lower to the upper surface of the airfoil, and having a rounded leading edge at the back of the slot, of a spoiler pivotally connected tov the top of the airfoil and movable on the pivot connection into a raised position ahead of the slot, a deflector at the bottom of the airfoil, and hinge means connecting the deflector to the airfoil, the hinge means having a pivot axis rearward of the slot and about which the deflector swings between raised and lowered positions, said deflector when in raised position being located substantially in line with the airfoil, and said deflector when in lowered position being spaced from the bottom of the airfoil and having its chord line extending along a directional line that intersects the airfoil at a substantial distance rearward of said leading edge.

9. An aircraft wing having a forward portion, a flap having a rounded leading edge, hinge means connecting the flap to the rearward end of the forward portion by connections that provide a slot between the flap and the forward portion when the flap is depressed, a spoiler at the top of the wing and within the wing profile, a pivot connection between the spoiler and the wing and on which the spoiler is movable upwardly to a location in front of the slot in position to deflect air upwardly, a deflector within the wing profile, a pivot connection between the deflector and the wing and rearward of the leading edge of the flap and on which the deflector is movable downwardly into a position spaced below the wing profile and extending forward below the slot and with the chord of the deflector along a directional line that intersects the flap at a substantial distance rearward of the leading edge of the flap, for deflecting air upwardly to the slot and against the forward portion of the flap, operating mechanism for the deflector responsive to movement of the flap to move the deflector upwardly and downwardly, and other operating mechanism for the spoiler operable independently of the flap and of the operating mechanism for the deflector.

10. In an airfoil, a forward portion and a rearward portion, a slot extending from the lower surface of the upper surface of the airfoil and between said forward and rearward portions, a deflector element movable between raised and lowered positions, the deflector element when in raised position extending across the lower end of the slot constituting a part of the lower surface of the airfoil, said deflector element when moved into its lowered position extending below the lower surface of the airfoil and being in spaced relation to both the forward and rearward portions of the airfoil and in angular relation to the lower surface of the airfoil, the upper end of the deflector element, when in lowered position, being rearward of the lower end of the slot so that at least a portion of the air deflected by said deflector element impinges against the lower surface of the rearward portion of the airfoil, the surface of said rearward portion against which the air impinges being curved over at least a portion of its area and the entire surface of the curved area being of convex curvature.

11. The combination with an airfoil having a slot therein, of a deflector movable between raised and lowered positions and comprising a part of the bottom surface of the airfoil when in raised position, hinge means connecting the deflector to the airfoil, the hinge means having an axis rearward of the slot entrance and about which the deflector swings downwardly into itsdowereo position im which-at lfeasfl the majorpondeflector bein eonnected to the hinge means: as sufficient diisian'e' front said axis to leavea bleed slot betweei:

V the' 'upper end-- of" the deflectors; and the surfiace of -theairfoil above the deflector, the deflector being: 11mm:

in positionto deflect airstream upwardly into ih'e slot and against a portion of the bottom surfaee of the air'f'oiL rearward ofthe" slot, the lowered defiectov and said bottom su rfacbeing'in such position'si with respect:

toone another that a portion of the defieeted ail amass 

